This Savage Heart by Patricia Hagan Read Free Book Online

footing, and pitched forward. He didn’t move fast enough, and she landed on her face in the deep snow.
    “That’s another thing to watch out for.” He pulled her to her feet and laughed at the sight of her snow-covered form. “I’m sorry. It’s just that you look so funny.”
    Julie dusted at the snow, unperturbed. “I guess that ends my walk. I’ll have to go change clothes now.”
    “Oh, it’ll brush off easy enough.” He dusted her shoulders, then moved to brush the snow from her chest. But he jerked back quickly as he realized he had touched her breasts. “I’m sorry,” he offered, staring down at the ground. “Please don’t think I was trying to be…uh…”
    “I know,” she said, embarrassed. “Tell me.” She looked for another direction. “If you don’t think I’m being nosy, what takes you west? You speak with a northern accent, so I don’t suppose you’re running from the Yankees.”
    His reply was surprisingly brusque. “No, I’m not.”
    “Forgive me. It’s none of my business.” She turned to walk back to camp, but he blocked her path, his gaze intense.
    “I didn’t mean to be short with you, Miss Marshall. I’m aware of the speculation about me, but I don’t want you wondering. I mean, I’d like for us to be friends. I’m not trying to be forward, it’s just that I don’t know of any other way to let you know how I feel without coming right out and saying I’d like to get to know you better. I haven’t got any courting skills, you see?”
    Julie was surprised. She couldn’t criticize him for being blunt, because she was often pretty blunt herself. “I’m flattered, Mr. Vance, but frankly, I don’t foresee any opportunities for socializing on a wagon train.”
    “Will you at least stop calling me Mr. Vance?” he asked. “It makes me feel like an old man. And as for being social, what are we doing right now?”
    She smiled up at him. “Walking in the snow.”
    “Well, we’re getting to know each other, aren’t we?”
    “I suppose.”
    “That’s a start. And when we get to San Angelo, there’ll be a big dance. I heard the town always does that when a wagon train comes through. It’s their way of saying welcome. Would you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you?”
    A dance! Heavens, she couldn’t even remember the last time she had whirled about a dance floor! The thought was so appealing. But what did she know about Arlo Vance? Myles wouldn’t approve, for all the menfolk were leery of Arlo. Derek wouldn’t like it, either. That thought gave her pleasure.
    “You’re hesitant.” Arlo continued to smile hopefully. “It’s because no one knows anything about me, is that it? Well, I’ll be glad to go to your brother and tell him I have only the most honorable of intentions.”
    “That won’t be necessary, Arlo. I am capable of making my own judgments about people.” She wondered if Arlo sensed her doubts about him. Something she could not quite define warned her to be careful with his feelings.
    His eyes widened just enough that she could see the hope there. “You will allow me to escort you?”
    “We’ll see,” she hedged, beginning to walk again. He fell into step beside her.
    “Maybe it’d help you make up your mind if you knew something about me, knew why I’m traveling alone.”
    His voice suddenly became tinged with sadness.
    “I was married once,” he began softly, head bowed. “We had a little farm in Pennsylvania. It wasn’t much, but we survived, me and my wife and little girl. We were happy. Then the war broke out, and I felt it was my duty to join up with the Union army. I thought Louise and Betsy would be safe, but there was fighting around Gettysburg, not far from our farm. I got there as soon as I could. It was too late.” He swallowed hard.
    “Please, Arlo,” Julie said quickly. “Don’t talk about something that hurts you. It’s none of my business.”
    “But I want you to know,” he cried. “It burns me, and